"Jason, I know you're here. I know you're with us and just like you ended all your convos with me, 'You're my chief.' You're my chief and I am your chief, Jason, but you are now our hero," said Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin.

"Early this past Saturday morning, a great husband, father, son, brother, friend, exhibited this great love. Jason gave his life for his country, his community, his family, for all of us," said Ellis' brother-in-law, Brandon Young.

Mourners said Ellis was a dedicated family man and police officer who lost his life far too soon.

"You must know that your chief will not stand down, nor will this group of law enforcement officers right here, and probably the hundreds of thousands of officers across this country, that your death has rattled their cage as well," McCubbin said.

"He served this community with dignity and respect. As you've heard, citizen after citizen sing praises about how great an officer he was," Young said.

There were no shortage of stories about how the 33-year-old made people laugh.

"Probably the biggest memory is his absolute desecration for the 'Electric Slide.' He was told to stick with policing," McCubbin said.

"He always had that big smile, that big grin on his face, that no matter what was going on, just like you've heard, he was always fun. The action? Well, it was always where Jason was," said Pastor Brent Snook.

Those were the kinds of memories cherished Thursday as many said their goodbyes to the fallen officer.

"Jason, my friend, rest easy. We've got it from here," said McCubbin.

For more than an hour, hundreds of citizens stood with no words, but flags in hand, banners held tightly and tears uncontainable along the streets of Bardstown waiting for the funeral procession to make its way by.

"This is just so senseless and such a brutal thing that’s happened I feel the community cannot believe this has happened," said resident Sandy May Berry.

In a show of solidarity in this tight-knit community, people filled the sidewalks hours before the procession began in a city decorated for a king’s welcome, but created for a fallen hero’s farewell.

"We started with the balloons. A family donation and it became the whole community, everybody wanted to participate," Berry said.

In any direction entering Bardstown, a barrage of American flags lined city streets for miles. Shops like the TLC Photography Studio and Pink Boutique created hundreds of ribbons for people to wear and blew up blue, black and gold balloons that ended up everywhere, tied to people, to outside benches and poles and on store fronts. People made their own banners and signs.

"It’s just very strong. You can feel that everyone is just supporting. It’s just overwhelming. Overwhelming of how much people have come together and shown their support for this officer," said resident Heather Beumel.

"It’s amazing. It’s very touching to the heart that the community has pulled together in this way," Berry said.

Parents brought their children saying the day is a grim lesson in life. It’s one even difficult for elders to accept.

"It’s a sad day, I hope things get better," said observer Raymond King.

It’s a lesson many said has changed the small community.

"I think everybody’s showing a little more support and love and appreciation for each other, so when you walk by somebody, you might say hello instead of nothing. It’s pulled us together," Berry said.

Ellis leaves behind a wife and two young sons.

He grew up in the Cincinnati area and loved baseball.

In his hometown on Thursday, First Baptist Church set up a big screen where dozens of people watched the funeral.

AN EMOTIONAL WEEK IN BARDSTOWN... AS THOUSANDS PAY THEIR FINAL RESPECTS TO OFFICER JASON ELLIS...AT HIS FUNERAL TODAY. IT WAS A DAY OF REVERENCE AND REMEMBERING...TRIUMPH AND TEARS. GOOD EVENING, I'M RICK VAN HOOSE. IT WAS A LIFE OF SERVICE...AND ULTIMATELY...SACRIFICE. AND TODAY, THE TRIBUTES FLOWED FOR FALLEN BARDSTOWN OFFICER JASON ELLIS. FOLLOWING HIS FUNERAL, A PROCESSION MILES LONG INCHED ITS WAY FROM PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH IN BARDSTOWN...TO HIGH VIEW CEMETERY IN CHAPLIN... WHERE ELLIS WAS LAID TO REST. THAT'S WHERE WLKY'S DREW DOUGLAS BEGINS OUR COVERAGE TONIGHT. THE SERVICES FOR JASON ELLIS MARK SEVEN YEARS TO DAY HE JOINED THE BARDSTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE IS THE FIRST MEMBER OF THAT DEPARTMENT TO EVER BE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. TAKE PKG NATS OF FUNERAL 2-3 SECS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FILLED PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH IN BARDSTOWN...FOR A MAN AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS CALLING A HERO. SO MANY PEOPLE CAME THAT THE FUNERAL WAS DELAYED...SO EVERYONE COULD GET INSIDE THE CHURCH. "Jason I know you're here. I know you're with us. And just like you ended all our conversations with me, you're my chief, you're my chief, and yes I am chief Jason, but you are now my hero." Rick McCubbin/Bardstown Police Chief 11:47:17-34 WHEN THE FUNERAL WAS FINISHED...A MORE THAN 15 MILE PROCESSION BEGAN. NATS OF PROCESSION 2-3 secs AROUND 1200 VEHICLES ESCORTED THE K-9 OFFICER TO HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE IN CHAPLIN. ELLIS...WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING WHILE REMOVING DEBRIS FROM THE ROADWAY NEAR THE BLUEGRASS PARKWAY....HAD AUTHORITIES FROM CINCINNATI TO LOUISVILLE THERE TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY. "It runs deep and that wonderful because that is what Amy is going to need." Elana Miles/Attended Service 18:00:36-40 A HORSE AND CARRIAGE HELPED BRING ELLIS' CASKET INTO THE CEMETERY. NATS OF BAGPIPES AND CARRIAGE 4:48:39-42 BESIDES FAMILY...FRIENDS...AND THE HUNDREDS OF UNIFORMED OFFICERS...THOSE WITH NO CONNECTION TO ELLIS ATTENDED THE SERVICES. DIANA MULLER SAYS BEING THERE WAS HUMBLING. "You could tell that they were all there with hearts broken, and just there to support and be there for the family and his brothers." Diana Muller/Attended Services 17:46:27-34 "No one could understand. You know if you can see pictures, see it on TV, there is no way you could understand without being here to see the multitude of love and support." Miles 18:00:17-29 TAG: TO BRING THIS COMMUNITY AND THE ELLIS FAMILY THE ULTIMATE CLOSURE...LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NOW SHIFT THEIR FULL ATTENTION TO CATCHING THE KILLER. REPORTING IN CHAPLIN...DREW DOUGLAS...WLKY NEWS. IT'S HOPED AN EVER- GROWING REWARD WILL BRING POLICE CLOSER TO FINDING THE GUNMAN. AND THAT REWARD FUND GOT A BIG BOOST EARLIER TODAY FROM A LOUISVILLE BUSINESSMAN. GUS GOLDSMITH... OF ACTION LOANS... CONTRIBUTED 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE "OFFICER JASON ELLIS REWARD FUND"... BRINGING THE TOTAL TO JUST MORE THAN 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS. GOLDSMITH SAYS HIS BROTHER'S MURDER... DECADES AGO... SPURRED HIM TO TAKE ACTION. GOLDSMITH ALSO PLEDGED TEN-THOUSAND DOLLARS TOWARD A FUND TO SUPPORT OFFICER ELLIS' FAMILY. THE PRESIDENT OF KENTUCKY'S ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME HAS ALSO DONATED 25-HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE REWARD FUND. AND KOSAIR CHARITIES HAS MATCHED IT... FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE-THOUSAND DOLLARS. YOU CAN DO SO AT ANY WILSON MUIR BANK BRANCH... OR YOU CAN DROP-OFF A DONATION AT THE BARDSTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAKE SURE TO NOTE ON THE CHECK WHETHER THE MONEY IS FOR THE MEMORIAL OR REWARD FUND. WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF TODAY'S FUNERAL SERVICE AND PROCESSION ONLINE... AND ON OUR MOBILE APP. YOU CAN WATCH THE ENTIRE CEREMONY... AND SEE IMAGES OF THE COMMUNITY PAYING TRIBUTE TO OFFICER ELLIS. YOU WILL FIND IT IN THE TOP

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